Hog-scraper.



J. P. LAWSON.

HOG SGRAPBR.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7, 1907.

Patentedv Nov. 2, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

u. F. LAWSON. HOG SCRAPER. APPLICATION FILED s EPT. 7, 1907. @88,59%Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

` J. P. LAWSON.

HUG SGRAPER.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7., 1907.

' Patented Nov. 2, 1909, SSHBETS-SHEET 3.

ulvwyn UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEErcE.

JAMES F. LAWSON, `OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR T0 CINCINNATI BUTCHEBSSUPPLY COMPANY, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO.

Hoescimmia Specification of Letters ilatent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1909.

Application led September 7, 1907. Serial No. 891,783.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES F. LAWSON, a citizen of the United States, andresiding at Cincinnati, Hamilton county, State of Ohio, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Hog-Scrapers; and I odo declarethe following to be a clear, full, and exact description of theinvention, attention being called to the accompanying two sheets ofdrawings, with the reference characters marked thereon, which form alsoa partof this specilication.

This invention relates to certain improvements in hog-Scrapers, meaningthereby devices whereby in slaughter-houses the hair is removed from thecarcasses of killed hogs. The hogs are usually scalded first toAfacilitate this operation.

One of the features of the invention is the` provision of auxiliaryscraping devices, by which the hair is removed from such parts of thehog which ordinarily are not readily accessible to the generalscraping-device ofl the apparatus.

Another feature is the combination andarrangement of all these scrapingdevices in a general frame so as to produce a compact apparatus of whichall parts properly co-act.

Other features relate to the particular construction of certain partswhich is such as to obtain efficiency and durability.

. In the following specification and particularly pointed out in theclaims at the end thereof, will be found a full description of myinvention, together with its operation, parts and construction, whichlatter is also illustrated in the accompanying two sheets of drawings,in which Figure l, is a side-elevation of the hegscraper, parts beingbroken away or shown in section to facilitate illustration. Fig. 2, is atop-view of the device,- it being shown completely lengthwise, buttransversely only somewhat beyond the longitudinal centerline. Fig. 3,shows a portion of Fig. l, in longitudinal section, it being moreparticularly the finishing-scraper. Fig. 4, is an end-view of thescraper, it being more particularly the front or receiving end. Fig. 5,is a vertical cross-section between the ends of the apparatus, it beingtaken more particuvby means of a hook,

larly between the rear-end of the general scraping-device and of theauxiliary scraper thereat. Fig. 6, shows the rear-end of the apparatuscomplete. Fig. 7,.shows a portion of Fig. 2, but complete transversely,it being top-views of the auxiliary scraping-dcvices and a horizontalsection of the main 'scraping-device between them. F igs.- 8 and 9, areenlarged side-views and Fig. 10, is an edge-view of a portion of one ofthe scraperarms of the main scraping-device, showing inv detail theconstruction of their pivotal supports, also the means whereby they areyieldingly held in their normal position, the means shown in Fig. 9,being modified as against those shown in Fig. 8. Fig. l1, is across-section of a scraper-arm near its free end, showing thescraper-blade thereat. Fig. l2, is an enlarged sectional detail-view ofparts of the preliminary scraper. 13, shows in perspective view a partof the finishing-scraper.

The usual procedure in slaughter-houses where such Scrapers are used issubstantially as follows: The hogs after being stuck and bled aredropped into a vat containing hotwater in which they are immersed andscalded. Next the carcasses are lifted out and dumped upon a receivingplatform, where, they are attached to a carrier, which is usually achain, and where-- by they are bodily pulled through thescraping-device. During this movement they come in contact with thescraping means which remove .the hair. After this, the carcasses arriveupon a rear or discharge platform where they are detached and removed.

During this procedure I provide for a preliminary scraping which thecarcasses receive before going through the main scraping-device and Ifurther add a nishingscraping which is applied afterthe carcasses havebeen subjected to the'action of the main sera ing-device. The meanswhereby these auxi iary .actions are applied are located on lthereceiving and discharge-platforms respectively, with the mainscraping-device located4 between them.

In the drawing, A is the receiving platform upon whichthe carcasses aredelivered from the scalding-vat., which latter, aswell f as the meansfor delivering them thereon, are omitted. A carcass as soon as itarrives, is at once attached by means of a customary hook 15, to one ofthe links of an endless carrier-chain B, supported on chain-wheels b-b.The upper branch of this chain travels'in a slotted channel 16, wherebyit is supplorted and guided. The lower branch of t e chain is supportedon ide-pulleys 17. The carcass while moving into position, see dottedlines in Fig. 7, is at once subjected to the action of the preliminaryscrapingdevice C. From here it is drawn, head-foremost, through the mainscrapliln device lD, and thereafter through the is ing-device E, afterwhich it arrives upon the rear or discharge latform F, where it isdetached from the c ain, usually automatically, and removed.

The main scraper consists of a cylindrical shell, in ,two sections d d,and suitably supported. They may be hinged at one of their edges,preferably their lower ones 18, 18. In the normal position as shown inFig. 5, the upper edges of these sections come toether, forming thensubstantially a cyliner. `From this shell project inwardly toward thevcenter, a number of scraper-arms G, arranged in longitudinal as well asin circumferential rows. At its free end each arm carries ascraper-blade g, and the arms are alternatingly arranged as to locationand terminate so that the edges of their blades occupy positions aroundan imaginary tubular space as best shown in Figs. 5 and 7, so that acarcass, when forced length-wise through this space, is practicallysurrounded by the edges of scraper-blades. `At the same time the size ofthis space, diametrically considered, is smaller than the smallestcarcass, so that this latter, while being pulled through this s ace hasto overcome the resistance of the yieldingly supported scraper-arms withthe scraper-blades, which latter are thus caused to bear close againstthe carcass and, adjusting themselves to the size and contour of thisatter, remain in scraping contact with it until the same has passedthrough the device (see Fig. 7 Excepted from this` contact vis theunder-side of the carcass next to the carrier-chain, where, by reasonofthe presence of this latter, and its guidechannel, it is impossible toprovide scraperblades. This under side however, it being usually thebelly of the hog, is taken care of by blades -c, ofthe preliminaryscraper C, whichdo their work before the carcass is in sition to movethrough the scraper D, as st shown in Fig. 7. These blades c,

are attached to cross-'bars 19, see Fig. 12,V

carried by endless chains 21, supported on chain-wheels 22, and move ina direction4 oppositeto the one in which the carcass trave These bladesare ls,- see also Figi. 1. carried on alternate inks of the chains andstam between them are bars 23, preferably of wood, attached tointermediate links of the chains, which prevent a carcass from sinkingin too deep between the scra .r-blades, while passing over them. The eges of these latter project above these bars sufficiently for thepurpose, and they are arranged alternate y` transversely, so that allparts of the belly are subject to their action.

Scraper-arms G, of the main scraping device A, are shaped as best `shownin Fig. 7,

see also Figs. 8, and 9, they vbeing curved rearwardly from theirbearings H, in which they are pivotally supported vnear their outer ens.

The scraper-blades g, have square notches whereby they straddle thesearms at their free, inner ends, the arms being lformed thereat withopposite fiat surfaces to fit these notches, there y holding the blades,against wabbling. Shoulders are formed at these ends, and a ainst whichthe blades rest, as shown in Fig. 11, bolts being used to hold them inposition.

Bearings H, which sup ort these arms are secured to the outside of) thescraper shell,

, the arms extending inwardl through closely fitting slots 24, in thelshe l. Thefsides of these slots form thus guideways which, in connectionwith bearings H, which straddle these slots, as best shown in Fig. 10,hold the arms during their operation to a Vtrue motion, -so that eachscra er-blade is held to swing in its intended ra ial path withoutinterference with any of the others, maintaining also at all times thecorrect position of its scraping edge with reference to the carcass, sothat only the strai ht part of this edge comes in contact wit the same,and to the exclusion of the corners of the blade which would dig intoand tear the skin. Observe these positions in Fig. 5. Helical springs25, are used, sleevednl upon rods 26, -to maintain these arms in theirnormal position as shown in Fi 5, see also Fi 7. Nuts 27, are provide onthese ro s against which one end of the springs bear, and by which theirresistance may be vadjusted. The other ends of the springs, in the formshownfin Fig. 8, rest against bearing H, rod 26 passing through anopening in said bearin and with its end is connecte to the free'en ofthe scraper-arm.

In the form shown in Fig. v9, rod 26 passes through an opening in theend of the scraperarm, the spring bearing directly against the arm. Inthis latter case rod 26 must be held in a fixed position for whichpurpose va bearing 28, is provided. Since springs change in condition,regulating means are require whereby any such variations may becomensated for, so that each arm returns with its blade always to itsropernormal position with reference to t e other blades, (see Fig. 5).

In Fig. 8, a regulating screw-29, is used for this purpose, thesamebeing seated in bearing H, and limits with its end, against which theend of the scraper-arm bears, the action of thespring.

In Fig. 9,nuts 31-31, regulate the position of rod 26, on its bearing2,8. In this figure there is also shown a short spring 32, held onextended rod 26,-by a nut 33, Ywhich however `has no operative functionand merely serves to cushion arm G, when the same, suddenly released,darts back to its normal position. Such.l a cushion-,spring may also beapplied in the form shown in Fig. 8. Either one of these two forms ofspring-support shown in Figs. Sand 9, may be used, but since both formsextend considerably beyond the bearings of arms G, an exception must bemade in the case of the arms supported near the endsof the shell, whereat one end the other form must be used to prevent the projection of thesprings beyond the end of the shell, which is not desirable. A glance atFig. 7, will render this clear, the form shown in Fig.-8, being used,with the exception of the arms near the rear end ofthe shell, where theother` form is used because in it the springs extend inwardly. l

As' before stated, the sections of the shell are hingedly attached andmay be swung apart as shown in Fig. 4, to permit free access tof theinterior in case of an accident, to permit removal of a carcass, ifnecessary, also for repair. Winding-drums 34, connected by chains 35, toeach section and mounted on a winding shaft 36, serve to draw thesections together after being opened. A crank 37 is used for thismanipulation and a ratchet wheel 38, in connection with a pawl 39,serves to hold the chains wound up. These latter have swivel joints forproper adjustment. The shell may be thrown open instantly by disengagingthe pawl and releasing the crank-handle. A locking-pin 41, is used inaddition, to hold the sections together. It occupies openings in twotongues 42, projecting from the edge of one section and also an openingin the edge of the other section, which opening registers with theopenings in the ktongues when said edge is in proper position betweenthem. There are in addition braces 43, connected with one of their endsto the shell-sections and with the other to available parts of thesurrounding frame-structure. They have knuckle-joints between their endsand when the shell is to be opened, they are collapsed as shownin Fig.4. I They drop slightly beyond a straight line when the shell is closedand become then rigid braces Vresisting lateral stress of the shell, asbest shown in Fig. 5. There is also an end-brace 44, attached to theframe-structure and against which the larger part of the' 53, is theshaft of the rear-edge of the shell bears, thus counteracting the strainresulting from the pull of carrier-chain B.

While operation in the scraper proceeds, water is constantly dischargedinto it and over the scraping-blades and onto the passing carcasses, tokeep them clear of hair which, together with thefwater, passes outthrough the opening in the lower part of the shell and between thehinged edgesof the sections thereof. This water discharges from nozzles45, which extend into the shell through openings at the edges of thesections thereof and The discharge from the shell-drops rst into aninclined trough J, the perforated bottom of which forms a strainer j,which retains the hair, while the waterruns into a tank K, from whence,by a pump c, it is lifted again and supplied to the discharge-nozzles.

v The shell sections presenting extensive. practically solid surfaces,are very useful inasmuch as they serve to confine and concentrate theforce of the water so that the interior is subjected to-an effectiveflushing which is particularly desirable to the scraper-blades andprevents accumulation of hair. To keep the any water which mightpossibly splash through slots 24, in the shell, I provide an outercasing L, on each side.

The hair left on-strainer j, is constantly issupplied from a ipe 46.

surroundings clear from removed as soon as deposited by a traveling rakeM, consisting of a chain 47, to which the rake-arms 48, are attached ina manner to extend transversely across the strainer.

As soon as a carcass emerges from the shell of main-'scraper D, it isimmediately subjected to the action of another auxiliary scraper E,which removes hair not previously removed. This device consists ofrevolving scraper heads supported in any suitable number on both sidesof chain B. I show two heads e e, which are supported below thecarrier-chain and one head e', supported above the chain. They consist.substantially of flaps 49, which are studded with scraperbits 51, (seeFig. 13). Flaps 49, are constructed of a suitable material and connectedin a manner by bolts, hinges or otherwise to have an elastic yieldingaction. The heads are arranged in pairs, each pair mounted on a shaftwith a head on each side of the chain. 52, 52, are the shafts of thelower heads and upper head.

The iiaps of the lower heads extend radially from their connected endsand their bits operate from below upwardly against the lower part of thesides of the carcass and catch also the end of the same asbest shown inFig. The flaps of the upper heads ex- 'tend laterally'inwardly from thearms of circular frames 54,y mounted on upper shaft 53, and theirscraper-bits act principally against the sides of the carcass as bestshown in Fig. 7. There are however additional [laps between these upperheads whlch act also against the upper side ofthe carcass.

`This upper set of scraper-heads is yieldingly supported to accommodatecarcasses of various sizes for which purpose the bearings of its shaft58, are formed in the free ends of links 55, which are hingedlyconnected to an upper-shaft 57, on whlch they swing. The set issupported in a normally lowest position, suitable for the smallestcarcasses b posts 58, upon which the ends of its sha rest.

Since it is objectionable to bend the fiaps too close to their connectedends, which would occur in case of their contact with a larger carcass,curved fender-bars 59, are provided and connected so as to lift head e',before the bending strain on the flaps becomesexcessive. They areencountered by the carcass and lift head e', corresponding to the sizeof the former. A preferable construction is to also hin e them to shaft.57, and connect them to lins 55, by a cross-bar 56, so that a connectedframe is formed, all parts of which move together (including also shaft53). There are also guards G0,

alongside and parallel to chain B, which' limit the contact of thelcarcass with the flaps of the lower heads for the same purpose. Afterpassed through these scraperheads the operation is finished and thecarcass arrives upon the rear platform F, where it is disengaged fromchain B, usuall automatically and removed. This plat orm is convex,dropping off toward its edges where curbs f, f, are provided which formgutters -on each s1de to catch any water which may still drain from thecarcasses.

The operative parts of the apparatus may be actuated by suitable machineelements in various ways, the details not being important. I drive bymeans of amain pulley N, sec Figs. l, and 6, mounted on a main driveshaft a. This latter operates a shaft O, by means of a chain o. Shaft O,drives a shaft l), by means of a gear-train p, interposed to obtainproper speed relations.

Shaft P, operates the carrier-chain B, one of the chain pulleys Z) ofthe same being mounted on this shaft below the outer end of rearplatform F. The otherchai'n-,pulley b, is mounted on a shaft Q, underthe front end of receiving platform A. This shaft by means of agear-train q, operates a shaft R, which b`y means of' a chain 1',lactuates auX- iliary scraper C. Pump k, is operated by achain-connection S, driven direct from shaft n. Traveling rake M, isdriven by a chain connection T, from shaft O.

The finishing scraper is actuated from main shaft a, by means of acrossed chain V, which drives shaft 52, of the nearest of thescraperblades in -lower scraper-heads, shaft near one of its ends.Another chain W, near the opposite end drives shaft 52, of the other oneof the lowerheads. From here chain X, drives shaft 57, which latter bymeans of the upper scraper-head.

All parts of the apparatus are supported on a frame suitably constructedto suit the purpose.

Having described my invention, I claim as new:

1. In a hog-scraping a bination of a horlzontal open at both ends,platforms, one opposite paratus, the conieach of these ends, a generalframe-structure whereby all these parts are combined and supported, acarrier-chain adapted to continuously move over these latforms andthrough the shell, yielding y supported scra er-blades arranged totravel in a plane in a inement with one of the platforms and moving in adirection opposite to the carrier-chain.

2.' In a hog-scraping apparatus', the com- 90 bination of a horizontal ysupported shellv open at both ends, platforms, one opposite` each ofthese ends, a general frame-structure whereby all these parts arecombined and supported, a carrier-chain adapted to 95 continuously moveover these latforms and through the shell, yielding y supportedscraper-blades in this latter and revolving scraper-heads at one end ofthe shell su ported respectively below and above t e 1( platform.

3..-In a hog-scraping a paratus, the combination of a horizontal ysupported shell open at both ends, platforms, one opposite each of theseends, a general frame-struc- 1l ture whereby` al1 these parts arecombined and supported, a carrier-chain adapted to continuously moveover vthese latforms and through the shell, yielding y supportedscraper-blades in this latter and revolving '1 scraper-devices at oneend of the shell su ported respectively below and above t e platform.the upper devices being yieldingly` supported.

'4. In a hog-scraping a paratus, the com- 1 bination of a horizontal yesupported shell open at both ends, platforms, one opposite each ofthese ends, a general frame-struct-ure whereby all these' parts arecombined and supported, a carrier-chain adapted to 1 move over theseplatforms and through the shell, yieldingly supported scraper-blades inthis latter, a set of scraper-blades at one end of the shell arran ed totravel in av plane in alinement with t e platform thereat and 1 movingin a direction opposite to the carrier-chan, and revolving scraper-headsat the other end of the shel supported respecconnecting to said '66 achain Y, drives shaft 53, of 70 y supported shell this latter and a setof .tively below and above theplatform. all

these devices being adapted to act upon a carcass while the same iscont-inuously moving from one` to the other.

5. In a hog-scrapmg apparatus, the combination of a horizontallysupported shell provided with scraping means and arranged in twovertically divided sections which have their lower, opposite edgesspaced apart and each hingedly connected, means to manipulate them foropening and closing and means to hold them in closed position.

(5. In a hog-scraping apparatus, the combination of a horizontallysupportedshell provided with scraping means and arranged in twosections, hinged at their lowery edges with a space between them, meansto supply water from above to flush the interior of the shell and itscontents, a strainer below the space between the hinged edges of theshellsections which receives the wash-out from the shell directed intoit by this latter, a

traveling rake to remove the deposit from the strainer and a tank belowthis latter.

7. In a hog-scraping apparatus, the combination of a horizontallysupported shell provided with openings in its wall, a slotted channelpassing length-wise through the shell, a carrier-chain arranged to movethrough this channel, scraper-arms all of equal length occupying theopenings in the shell and extending' outwardly and inwardly therefromand terminating with their inner ends near the channel in the shell,bearings on the outsideof the shell in which these arms are pivotallysupported, scraper-blades at their inner ends and springs connected totheir outer ends to hold the scraper-blades in a certain normalposition.

4. ln a hog-scraping apparat-us, the combination of movablescraping-means adapted to travel in a linear scraping-bath, stationaryscraping-means yieldlngly supported, revolving scraping-means moving ina rotary scraping-path, a frame-structure on which all these devices aresupported means to continuously move a carcass Soas to cause the same tobe subjected to the action of all these scraping-means.

9. In a hog-scraping apparatus, the'combination of a horizontallyarranged shell open at both ends. yieldingly supported scraper-bladestherein, revolving scraping means at one end of the shell, aframe-structure on which both these devices are supported and means tocontinuously move a carcass so as to cause the same to be subjectedtothe action of the scraping-blades and of the revolving scraping means.

10. In a hog-scraping apparat-us, the combination of a horizontallysupported shell open at both ends and in its lower part, scrapingdevices arranged therein in spaced longitudinal rows, means to move acarcass through between these rows, a water-supplyl pipe parallel to theopening in the lower part of the shell and above the same, dischargenozzles extending therefrom to lushthe interior of the shell and meanslbelow the o cn- 4ing of this latter to receive the washout thererom. l

`11. 1n ahog-scraping apparatus, the combination of yieldingly supportedscraperarms made of rectangular rods and shaped to ha ve shouldersextending at an angle from theiry free ends, scraper-blades seatedagainst4 the shoulders and notched to straddle the arms, said notchesbeing rectangular and fitted close to two opposite, parallel surfaces ofthe arm to prevent-the'blades from turning thereon and means to hold theblades against this shoulder.

12. In a hog-scraping apparatus, the combination of a scraper-bladehaving a straight scraping edge with rounded corners, a rectangularnotch in the opposite edge, a scraper-arm being shaped to have opposite,parallel surfaces blade is mounted on the arm, there being also ashoulder on the end of this arm against which the latter lies so as tooccupy an angular position with reference to the arm, means to hold theblade to this shoulder, and means supporting the arm in a manner to holdit to a yielding movement in a fixed plane at right angles to thescraping-edge so that scraping contact is limited to the straight partof the edge only.

13. In a hog-scraping apparatus, the combination of a carrier-chain adated to move carcasses, a rotaryscraping device supported above the sameand yieldingly connected fender-bars also supported above thecarrierchain and extending into the path of a moving carcass, t-hesebars being also operatively when acted upon by a automatically adjustscraping device.

14. In a hog-'scraping appara-tus, the combination of scraping devices,an inclined platform extending from one end .of the apparatus, it beingconvex between its lon itudinal edges and provided with a slot in itshighest part between these edges and parallel to them, a carrier-chainadapted to move past the scraping devices and through the slot mentionedand curbson each of the longitudinal edges of the plat-form.

15. In a hog-scraping apparatus, the compassmg carcass, they theyposition ofthe bination of a horizontally supported shell composed oftwo substantially semitubular sect-ions, each hingedly connected at oneof its longitudinal edges, flexible means to draw these sectionstogether when t-he shell is open and means to hold them in closedposition.

' 16. In a hog-scraping apparatus, the combination of a shell composedof two, substantially semitubular sections, each hingedly connected atone of its longitudinal edges, a

fitted to this notch when the connected to the scraping device so thatvI ioposite portions of the general frame and Witnesses:

gener-l frame upon which the shell is hori- In testimony whereofhereunto aix my v zontal-ly supported fand joilsted braces,fea:llsignature in the presence of two witnesses. connecte at one o vits en toone o t sections of the shell and at its other end to JAMES F LAWSONpted, when extend to hold the shell- C. Summa,

sectlons in closed position. T. L BEAN. l

